Every PetRoot Score starts with what the product is meant to do. PetRoot then evaluates the exact formula using the standards and research that apply to that kind of product. Foods, treats, and toppers face different rules, and every product within a category faces the same ones.
How well does this product do its job?
The score reflects the product's disclosed nutrition and formulation, judged against the rules for its category and stated purpose.
How well can PetRoot support that score?
Evidence Quality reflects how complete, direct, current, and exact the supporting product facts are.
Expected to support the whole diet when fed as directed
Expected to fit alongside the main diet in a sensible portion
Expected to add a specific benefit at the labeled serving
PetRoot's scoring rules draw from nutritional standards, veterinary guidance, safety records, and peer-reviewed research. This public reading list grows as the evidence does.
Lauten SD, Cox NR, Brawner WR Jr, Goodman SA, Hathcock JT, Montgomery RD, Kincaid SA, Morrison NE, Spano JS, Lepine AJ, Reinhart GA, Baker HJ · 2002
Dog recommendationsGarden OA, Pidduck H, Lakhani KH, Walker D, Wood JL, Batt RM · 2000
Dog recommendationsPaul AJ, Tranquilli WJ, Seward RL, Todd KS Jr, DiPietro JA · 1987
Dog recommendationsFunaba M, Matsumoto C, Matsuki K, Gotoh K, Kaneko M, Iriki T, Hatano Y, Abe M · 2002
Food scoringZanghi BM, Wils-Plotz E, DeGeer S, Gardner CL · 2018
Food scoringMugnier A, Gaillard V, Chastant S · 2023
Cat recommendationsVecchiato CG, Schwaiger K, Biagi G, Dobenecker B · 2022
Food scoringOpsomer H, Liesegang A, Brugger D, Wichert B · 2022
Cat recommendationsDodd SAS, Shoveller AK, Fascetti AJ, Yu ZZ, Ma DWL, Verbrugghe A · 2021
Food scoringScarpim LB, Pacheco LG · 2026
Food scoringVanelli K, Wisneski RF, Estevão C, Mayer FC, Costa LB, Webber SH, Pimpão CT · 2025
Food scoringSroka J, Karamon J, Dutkiewicz J, Wójcik Fatla A, Zając V, Cencek T · 2018
Cat recommendationsIshii CS, Scott KC, Abrahan C, Harmon TA, Colee JC, Queau Y, Biourge V, Garrett TJ, Hill RC · 2025
Dog recommendationsYamato O, Tsuneyoshi T, Ushijima M, Jikihara H, Yabuki A · 2018
Dog recommendationsWestropp JL, Larsen JA, Johnson EG, Bannasch D, Fascetti AJ, Biourge V, Queau Y · 2017
Dog recommendationsPaßlack N, Kohn B, Doherr MG, Zentek J · 2018
Food scoringColtherd JC, Alexander JE, Pink C, Rawlings J, Elliott J, Haydock R, Carvell-Miller LJ, Biourge VC, Molina L, Butterwick R, Logan DW, Watson P, Bakke AM · 2021
Cat recommendationsAlexander J, Stockman J, Atwal J, Butterwick R, Colyer A, Elliott D, Gilham M, Morris P, Staunton R, Renfrew H, Elliott J, Watson P · 2019
Cat recommendationsPan Y, Larson B, Araujo JA, Lau W, de Rivera C, Santana R, Gore A, Milgram NW · 2010
Dog recommendationsBackus RC, Cave NJ, Keisler DH · 2007
Cat recommendationsBuckley CMF, Hawthorne A, Colyer A, Stevenson AE · 2011
Food scoringFunaba M, Oka Y, Kobayashi S, Kaneko M, Yamamoto H, Namikawa K, Iriki T, Hatano Y, Abe M · 2005
Food scoringHouston DM, Vanstone NP, Moore AE, Weese HE, Weese JS · 2016
Cat recommendationsFreeman LM, Janecko N, Weese JS · 2013
Food scoringFieten H, Gill Y, Martin AJ, Concilli M, Dirksen K, van Steenbeek FG, Spee B, van den Ingh TS, Martens EC, Festa P, Chesi G, van de Sluis B, Houwen RH, Watson AL, Aulchenko YS, Hodgkinson VL, Zhu S, Petris MJ, Polishchuk RS, Leegwater PA, Rothuizen J · 2016
Dog recommendationsDunn ST, Hedges L, Sampson KE, Lai Y, Mahabir S, Balogh L, Locuson CW · 2011
Dog recommendationsPan Y, Landsberg G, Mougeot I, Kelly S, Xu H, Bhatnagar S, Gardner CL, Milgram NW · 2018
Dog recommendationsAkiyama N, Matsumoto Y, Horie R · 2026
Cat recommendationsGerman K, Melgoza C, Torres-Henderson C · 2025
Food scoringTakahashi K, Nango H, Ushijima M, Takashima M, Nakamoto M, Matsutomo T, Jikihara H, Arakawa N, Maki S, Yabuki A, Endo Y, Yamato O · 2023
Dog recommendationsReilly LM, He F, Rodriguez-Zas SL, Southey BR, Hoke JM, Davenport GM, de Godoy MRC · 2021
Food scoringMeurs KM, Norgard MM, Ederer MM, Hendrix KP, Kittleson MD · 2007
Cat recommendationsHall EJ, Batt RM · 1992
Dog recommendationsBarbeau-Grégoire M, Otis C, Cournoyer A, Moreau M, Lussier B, Troncy E · 2022
Cat recommendations · Dog recommendationsBree L, Gallagher BA, Shiel RE, Mooney CT · 2018
Cat recommendationsCorbee RJ, Barnier MM, van de Lest CH, Hazewinkel HA · 2013
Cat recommendationsHill AS, Werner JA, Rogers QR, O'Neill SL, Christopher MM · 2004
Cat recommendationsMartin L, Siliart B, Dumon H, Backus R, Biourge V, Nguyen P · 2001
Cat recommendationsCarciofi AC, Takakura FS, De‐Oliveira LD, Teshima E, Jeremias JT, Brunetto MA, Prada F · 2008
Food scoringDobenecker B, Hertel‐Böhnke P, Webel A, Kienzle E · 2018
Food scoringMorris EM, Stiers CA, Hancock LB, Gross KL · 2025
Dog recommendationsBuff PR, Carter RA, Bauer JE, Kersey JH · 2014
Food scoringTryfonidou MA, Holl MS, Vastenburg M, Oosterlaken-Dijksterhuis MA, Birkenhäger-Frenkel DH, van den Brom WE, Hazewinkel HA · 2003
Dog recommendationsRoberts LJ, Oba PM, Swanson KS · 2023
Food scoringGodfrey H, Ellis JL, Verbrugghe A · 2025
Food scoringTempleman JR, Shoveller AK · 2022
Food scoringde-Oliveira LD, Carciofi AC, Oliveira MCC, Vasconcellos RS, Bazolli RS, Pereira GT, Prada F · 2008
Food scoringJohnson ML, Parsons CM, Fahey GC, Merchen NR, Aldrich CG · 1998
Food scoringHendriks WH, Bakker EJ, Bosch G · 2015
Food scoringDonadelli RA, Aldrich CG · 2019
Food scoringTaylor S, Boysen S, Buffington T, Chalhoub S, Defauw P, Delgado MM, Gunn-Moore D, Korman R · 2025
Cat recommendationsStockman J · 2024
Cat recommendationsO'Neill DG, Gunn-Moore D, Sorrell S, McAuslan H, Church DB, Pegram C, Brodbelt DC · 2023
Cat recommendationsO'Neill DG, Blenkarn A, Brodbelt DC, Church DB, Freeman A · 2023
Cat recommendationsManiaki E, Murrell J, Langley-Hobbs SJ, Blackwell EJ · 2021
Cat recommendationsSparkes AH, Caney S, Chalhoub S, Elliott J, Finch N, Gajanayake I, Langston C, Lefebvre HP, White J, Quimby J · 2016
Cat recommendationsSutton NM, Bates N, Campbell A · 2007
Cat recommendationsGunn-Moore DA, Shenoy CM · 2004
Cat recommendationsvan Hoek I, Hesta M, Biourge V · 2014
Cat recommendationsVillaverde C, Chandler M · 2022
Food scoringGrotheer M, Hirschberger J, Hartmann K, Castelletti N, Schulz B · 2019
Cat recommendationsSparkes AH, Cannon M, Church D, Fleeman L, Harvey A, Hoenig M, Peterson ME, Reusch CE, Taylor S, Rosenberg D · 2015
Food scoringTaylor S, Cannon M, Church D, Fleeman L, Fracassi F, Gilor C, Mott J, Niessen S · 2025
Food scoringGiesecke D, Stangassinger M · 1990
Dog recommendationsvan Rooijen C, Bosch G, van der Poel AFB, Wierenga PA, Alexander L, Hendriks WH · 2014
Food scoringLeicester L, O'Neill DG · 2026
Cat recommendationsWilliams JL, Roberts C, Harley R, Gruffydd-Jones TJ, Murray JK · 2024
Cat recommendationsO'Neill DG, Mitchell CE, Humphrey J, Church DB, Brodbelt DC, Pegram C · 2021
Dog recommendationsWSAVA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines Task Force Members, Freeman L, Becvarova I, Cave N, MacKay C, Nguyen P, Rama B, Takashima G, Tiffin R, Tsjimoto H, van Beukelen P · 2011
Food scoringWakeling J, Everard A, Brodbelt D, Elliott J, Syme H · 2009
Cat recommendationsAllan RM, Adams VJ, Johnston NW · 2018
Food scoringLyons LA, Biller DS, Erdman CA, Lipinski MJ, Young AE, Roe BA, Qin B, Grahn RA · 2004
Cat recommendationsYamka R, Sires R, Wakshlag J, Gaylord L, Cridge H · 2026
Dog recommendationsBenka VA, Sahrmann JM, Rieke K, Briggs JR, Spofford N, Zawistowski S, Ruple A, Romagnoli S, Morrison JA · 2025
Dog recommendationsJohnson KA, Cline M, Bastian RP, Eck A, Davis S, Davis GJ · 2024
Dog recommendationsKhan SA, McLean MK, Slater MR · 2014
Cat recommendationsGreene JP, Lefebvre SL, Wang M, Yang M, Lund EM, Polzin DJ · 2014
Cat recommendationsFreeman LM, Chandler ML, Hamper BA, Weeth LP · 2013
Cat recommendationsHill RC, Choate CJ, Scott KC, Molenberghs G · 2009
Food scoringLeib MS, Sartor LL · 2008
Dog recommendationsDunayer EK, Gwaltney-Brant SM · 2006
Dog recommendationsSmith GK, Paster ER, Powers MY, Lawler DF, Biery DN, Shofer FS, McKelvie PJ, Kealy RD · 2006
Dog recommendationsEdinboro CH, Scott-Moncrieff JC, Janovitz E, Thacker HL, Glickman LT · 2004
Cat recommendationsLekcharoensuk C, Lulich JP, Osborne CA, Koehler LA, Urlich LK, Carpenter KA, Swanson LL · 2000
Cat recommendationsRobertson JE, Christopher MM, Rogers QR · 1998
Cat recommendationsColombini S, Dunstan RW · 1997
Dog recommendationsThumchai R, Lulich J, Osborne CA, King VL, Lund EM, Marsh WE, Ulrich LK, Koehler LA, Bird KA · 1996
Cat recommendationsHennet P, Servet E, Venet C · 2006
Dog recommendationsGorrel C, Inskeep G, Inskeep T · 1998
Cat recommendationsCarpenter MM, Hovda LR · 2022
Cat recommendationsDuHadway MR, Sharp CR, Meyers KE, Koenigshof AM · 2015
Dog recommendationsGenovese AG, McLean MK, Khan SA · 2012
Cat recommendations · Dog recommendationsMortier F, Daminet S, Marynissen S, Verbeke J, Paepe D · 2025
Cat recommendationsLulich JP, Ulrich R, Furrow E · 2025
Dog recommendationsWaite O, Gostelow R, Wright E, Jepson RE, Brodbelt DC, O'Neill DG · 2025
Cat recommendationsOwens EJ, LeBlanc NL, Freeman LM, Scollan KF · 2023
Food scoringBeeston D, Humm K, Church DB, Brodbelt D, O'Neill DG · 2022
Cat recommendationsFreeman L, Rush J, Adin D, Weeks K, Antoon K, Brethel S, Cunningham S, Santos LD, Girens R, Goldberg R, Karlin E, Lessard D, Lopez K, Rouben C, Vereb M, Yang V · 2022
Dog recommendations · Food scoringKopecny L, Palm CA, Segev G, Larsen JA, Westropp JL · 2021
Cat recommendationsXenoulis PG, Cammarata PJ, Walzem RL, Suchodolski JS, Steiner JM · 2020
Dog recommendationsWebster CRL, Center SA, Cullen JM, Penninck DG, Richter KP, Twedt DC, Watson PJ · 2019
Dog recommendationsLowrie M, Garden OA, Hadjivassiliou M, Sanders DS, Powell R, Garosi L · 2018
Dog recommendationsÖhlund M, Egenvall A, Fall T, Hansson-Hamlin H, Röcklinsberg H, Holst BS · 2017
Cat recommendationsO'Neill DG, Gostelow R, Orme C, Church DB, Niessen SJ, Verheyen K, Brodbelt DC · 2016
Cat recommendationsFieten H, Biourge VC, Watson AL, Leegwater PA, van den Ingh TS, Rothuizen J · 2015
Dog recommendationsÖhlund M, Fall T, Ström Holst B, Hansson-Hamlin H, Bonnett B, Egenvall A · 2015
Cat recommendationsGranström S, Godiksen MT, Christiansen M, Pipper CB, Willesen JL, Koch J · 2011
Cat recommendationsXenoulis PG, Levinski MD, Suchodolski JS, Steiner JM · 2011
Dog recommendationsFries R, Heaney AM, Meurs KM · 2008
Cat recommendationsLaflamme D, Backus R, Brown S, Butterwick R, Czarnecki-Maulden G, Elliott J, Fascetti A, Polzin D · 2020
Food scoringSummers SC, Stockman J, Larsen JA, Zhang L, Rodriguez AS · 2020
Food scoringFunaba M, Tanaka T, Kaneko M, Iriki T, Hatano Y, Abe M · 2001
Food scoringJerzsele Á, Karancsi Z, Pászti-Gere E, Sterczer Á, Bersényi A, Fodor K, Szabó D, Vajdovich P · 2018
Cat recommendationsGeyer J, Döring B, Godoy JR, Leidolf R, Moritz A, Petzinger E · 2005
Dog recommendationsChoi B, Kim S, Jang G · 2023
Food scoringChuppava B, Siebert DC, Visscher C, Kamphues J, Abd El-Wahab A · 2023
Food scoringOlczak J, Jones BR, Pfeiffer DU, Squires RA, Morris RS, Markwell PJ · 2005
Cat recommendationsVerbrugghe A, Bakovic M · 2013
Food scoringvan Rooijen C, Bosch G, van der Poel AFB, Wierenga PA, Alexander L, Hendriks WH · 2013
Food scoringGandolfi B, Alamri S, Darby WG, Adhikari B, Lattimer JC, Malik R, Wade CM, Lyons LA, Cheng J, Bateman JF, McIntyre P, Lamandé SR, Haase B · 2016
Cat recommendationsMealey KL, Bentjen SA, Gay JM, Cantor GH · 2001
Dog recommendationsAbd El-Wahab A, Zeiger AL, Chuppava B, Visscher C, Kamphues J · 2022
Food scoringSalt C, German AJ, Henzel KS, Butterwick RF · 2022
Cat recommendationsCalvez J, Weber M, Ecochard C, Kleim L, Flanagan J, Biourge V, German AJ · 2019
Food scoringLinde A, Lahiff M, Krantz A, Sharp N, Ng TT, Melgarejo T · 2024
Food scoringQuilliam C, Reis LG, Ren Y, Ai Y, Weber LP · 2023
Food scoringBermingham EN, Thomas DG, Cave NJ, Morris PJ, Butterwick RF, German AJ · 2014
Food scoringBöswald LF, Klein C, Dobenecker B, Kienzle E · 2019
Food scoringCavanaugh SM, Cavanaugh RP, Gilbert GE, Leavitt EL, Ketzis JK, Vieira AB · 2021
Food scoringGonçalves Tozato ME, de Souza Theodoro S, Warde Luis L, Bassi Scarpim L, da Cunha Costa P, Judice Maria AP, Tadeu Pereira G, Cavalieri Carciofi A · 2024
Food scoringDonadelli RA, Jones CK, Beyer RS · 2019
Food scoringMontoya M, Péron F, Hookey T, Morrison J, German AJ, Gaillard V, Flanagan J · 2025
Dog recommendationsGunther I, Raz T, Klement E · 2018
Cat recommendationsRowe E, Browne W, Casey R, Gruffydd-Jones T, Murray J · 2015
Cat recommendationsOkafor CC, Lefebvre SL, Pearl DL, Yang M, Wang M, Blois SL, Lund EM, Dewey CE · 2014
Dog recommendationsDavies M · 2016
Food scoringFettman MJ, Stanton CA, Banks LL, et al. · 1997
Cat recommendationsSmith CE, Parnell LD, Lai CQ, Rush JE, Freeman LM · 2021
Food scoringPiyarungsri K, Tangtrongsup S, Thitaram N, Lekklar P, Kittinuntasilp A · 2020
Cat recommendationsAnantharaman-Barr G, Ballèvre O, Gicquello P, Bracco-Hammer I, Vuichoud J, Montigon F, Fern E · 1994
Food scoringHendriks WH, Wu YB, Rutherfurd KJ, Shields RG, Newcomb M, Belay T, Wilson J · 2002
Food scoringVapalahti K, Neittaanmäki H, Lohi H, Virtala AM · 2024
Cat recommendationsJukes A, Lui M, Morton JM, Marshall R, Yeow N, Gunew M · 2019
Cat recommendationsMcCarthy G, O'Donovan J, Jones B, McAllister H, Seed M, Mooney C · 2007
Dog recommendationsGatel L, Rosset E, Chalvet-Monfray K, Buff S, Rault DN · 2011
Cat recommendationsReilly LM, von Schaumburg PC, Hoke JM, Davenport GM, Utterback PL, Parsons CM, de Godoy MRC · 2020
Food scoringHacılarlıoğlu S, Pekağırbaş M · 2025
Cat recommendationsScott RM, Evans R, Conzemius MG · 2017
Dog recommendationsHansen SR, Buck WB, Meerdink G, Khan SA · 2000
Dog recommendationsDirksen K, Fieten H · 2017
Dog recommendationsLulich JP, Osborne CA, Thumchai R, et al. · 1999
Dog recommendationsColombo S, Fabbri E, Scarampella F · 2026
Cat recommendationsHobi S, Klinger C, Classen J, Mueller RS · 2017
Dog recommendationsWhite SD, Bourdeau P, Rosychuk RA, Cohen B, Bonenberger T, Fieseler KV, Ihrke P, Chapman PL, Schultheiss P, Zur G, Cannon A, Outerbridge C · 2001
Dog recommendationsWeber M, Sams L, Feugier A, Michel S, Biourge V · 2015
Cat recommendationsKöhler I, Ballhausen BD, Stockhaus C, Hartmann K, Wehner A · 2016
Cat recommendationsConroy M, Brodbelt DC, O'Neill D, Chang YM, Elliott J · 2019
Cat recommendationsClarke SP, Mellor D, Clements DN, Gemmill T, Farrell M, Carmichael S, Bennett D · 2005
Cat recommendationsSchoenmakers I, Hazewinkel HA, Voorhout G, Carlson CS, Richardson D · 2000
Dog recommendationsMorelli G, Fusi E, Tenti S, Serva L, Marchesini G, Diez M, Ricci R · 2018
Food scoringFredriksson-Ahomaa M, Heikkilä T, Pernu N, Kovanen S, Hielm-Björkman A, Kivistö R · 2017
Cat recommendationsVerbrugghe A, Hesta M · 2017
Food scoringLascelles BD, Henry JB 3rd, Brown J, Robertson I, Sumrell AT, Simpson W, Wheeler S, Hansen BD, Zamprogno H, Freire M, Pease A · 2010
Cat recommendationsLakhamsen N, Chaisongkhram C, Pattarasuplerk Y, Macotpet A, Seesupa S, Lertitthikul N, Bupata P, Kunkitti P · 2022
Cat recommendationsSattasathuchana P, Bumrungpun C, Thengchaisri N · 2020
Cat recommendationsBeck W, Stickel M · 2008
Cat recommendationsSimple, science-backed scores for food, treats, and toppers
Start free on iPhoneDownload PetRoot
